Things that I have learned from being a Freelancer

It is strange how sometimes things happen to us but then seem to just fall into place, as if it was meant to happen that way. I don’t know if one could call it fate, destiny or just plain coincidence, but it is amazing when you find yourself in the middle of such a seemingly planned life path. Last year when I was retrenched from a PA position (which was not too gutted about, because I felt that my value exceeded the job that I was doing) I found myself at a crossroad; do I go back to teaching music and being a performer, or do I make use of the digital marketing certificate that I have?

The former option would be the easiest, but in my heart I also felt that it was maybe not the right decision for me, because I wanted to grow as a person and in my professional capacity. So, I decided to go the freelance route and sort of be my own boss. I can tell you now that it is one of the most liberating feelings that you could ever experience, but it also places you under a lot of stress because you are the only one that is going to determine the level of your success. Up to this day I have not regretted my decision once, and I would like to give you some tips to help you along the road if you are thinking of going solo too.

Some tips if you’re thinking about going solo…

Make sure that you have a good portfolio, this includes a website and social media platforms where people can easily see what you are all about. If you do not have a large amount of example work, then your platforms should look good enough for someone to want to give you work.

Always be on the lookout for jobs on advertising platforms such as Gumtree and Careers24. You never know, sometimes companies are willing to use freelancers for part time work.

Create a blog, with good content based on the field that you are looking to specialize in.

Try to attend networking events and conferences so that you get to make physical contact with the real people out there. A friend in the right place can go a long way. Hey, you never know, you might meet someone that you could team up with to create something great 🙂

Be flexible. Sometimes you will have to change the way that you do things to suit a client’s needs, but its also part of the job. If you feel that it’s worth your time, I suggest you try to make a plan.

And lastly, always remember this- “The only thing that works is to work”.

I hope that these ideas prove to be helpful! Let me know if you have any questions that I could help you with 🙂